Webcraft Latest (15 - 16th July)

stevebirch2002

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www.albinvega.co.uk
Here are the latest two charts and report for Fairwinds on her return from the Azores

15th July Chart

Voyage15July.jpg


Log 15th July
Fairwinds position report noon 15th July

N 41 31.4
W13 23.8

Distance to WP SPAIN 181nm
Distance to Camarinas 220nm

Currently experiencing stronger winds (about 20ok) than expected and a rolly uncomfortable sea. More tomorrow.


16th July Chart
Voyage16July.jpg


Log 16th July

Fairwinds' Position Report 12.00 UTC 16th July 2007


42deg 04.7'N 011deg 23.0'W


Noon - Noon Run 100nm

Distance from Praia da Vitoria 778nm

Distance to WP SPAIN (42deg 32'.5N 009deg 34.0'W) 85nm

Distance to Camarinas 105nm (Via WP SPAIN)



Rhythmic rolling must be one of the least fun bits of ocean sailing - and we could have had four weeks of this if we had gone to the Caribbean! We are sailing directly downwind in a SSW wind varying apparetly randomly between 12 and 24 knots with big irregular swells for the last 24 hours, trying to find a sail plan that will hold the wind as we roll without shaking the rig to bits. We were goosewinged yesterday, but when I went to take the main down before dark I nearly went in when the coachroof grabrail I was bracing myself against broke. In actual fact, although we go faster in a straight line with both sails up the Navik tends to saw madly from side to side as we surf, resulting in a much greater distance travelled. Today we have stuck with a single non-poled genoa, sometimes reefed and sometimes not. We will cream along smoothly for maybe half a minute at five knots, then the rolling will start - gently at first, quickly building to a crescendo where the boat is rolling 20 degrees either side with a period of about four seconds, everything in the cupboards crashing and banging, hull groaning, until inevitably the headsail is taken aback and then fills again with an almighty crash that shakes the rig.


Still, we should be in sight of our destination this time tomorrow all being well. In the early hours of the morning we will have to cross the main shipping lanes South of Finisterre, then it is just 40 miles to Camarinas, a shower, some beers and a slap up meal.


Fairwinds out
 

FullCircle

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Blimey I only put up with it for 6 hours on Sunday, that was enough for me!

Sounds like progress is being made though. Keep at it....
 

webcraft

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Arrived Camarinas - half an Atlantic crossing . . .

We empontooned here in Camarinas at 15.00 UTC (17.00 local time) this afternoon. Fairwinds has now crossed half the Atlantic twice.

We have sailed exactly 900 miles to get here in a total time of eight days two and a half hours.

Most of the last 24 hours we motored, with another knot or so from the genoa whenever the wind picked up. Sea conditions have been consistently worse that would be expected for the winds we have had - because the swell and waves are being produced elsewhere where the weather is worse, then sent our way. Do we want a matching set of wind and sea state, or would we rather roll around madly with insufficient wind? Why does it never seem to happen the other way round - good sea conditions with strong winds?

Anyway . . . after seeing nothing more exciting than a small lump of expanded polystyrene for three whole days we were suddenly surrounded by tankers, container ships and unidentified blocks of flats doing up to 20 knots as we approached the Spanish coast. The chart is marked with arcane symbols at this point and the words ´Here be Ships´. As Kathy pointed out, it certainly keeps you awake on watch. We had to slow down once to let a particularly slow ship cross in front, but otherwise had no problems.

Now we are back where we met Bruce (Das Boot) and Allie over nine months ago . . . what an adventure this has been, and before anyone points out the obvious, it aint over yet. We have arrived in Camarinas in the middle of the biggest local fiesta of the year, and a big sound stage has been set up here in the harbour - but I reckon we will sleep through anything tonight.

Right, enough now time for another cerveza grande. Having the usual difficulty switching from Pôrtugues to Spanish, but there are worse problems - like how can we afford to eat and drink in the manner to which we have become accustomed once we are back in Scotland?

- Nick
 

longjohnsadler

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Re: Arrived Camarinas - half an Atlantic crossing . . .

[ QUOTE ]
Right, enough now time for another cerveza grande. Having the usual difficulty switching from Pôrtugues to Spanish, but there are worse problems - like how can we afford to eat and drink in the manner to which we have become accustomed once we are back in Scotland?


[/ QUOTE ]

Start doing some work like the rest of us yer bugger!
Well done BTW
 

webcraft

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Doing some work . . .

[ QUOTE ]
Start doing some work like the rest of us yer bugger!


[/ QUOTE ] Thanks to the wonders of electrical communications the Webcraft empire is alive and well . . . but I need a boat with a bigger office . . .

- W
 

Drumtochty

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22 May 2006
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Re: Doing some work . . .

[ QUOTE ]
Plan B then...
Sell the house in Scotland (rain/midges/expensive and often indifferent beer) and buy boat with bigger office and oven.

[/ QUOTE ]

If truth be told that was Plan A if Nick originally had his way!!!!
 
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